(Pulitzer Prize Winner) In this history, the National Book Award–winning author of American Sphinx explores how a group of gifted but deeply flawed individuals—Hamilton, Burr, Jefferson, Franklin, Washington, Adams, and Madison—confronted the challenges before them to set the course for our nation. In the last years of the 18th century, the Founding Fathers—reexamined here as the Founding Brothers—combined the ideals of the Declaration of Independence with the content of the Constitution to create the practical workings of the U.S. government. Through an analysis of six episodes that occurred during those years—including Hamilton and Burr's deadly duel, Franklin's attempt to force Congress to confront the issue of slavery and Madison's attempts to block him, and Adams' administration and political partnership with his wife—Founding Brothers brings to life the issues and personalities from this critical decade.

"A splendid book—humane, learned, written with flair and radiant with a calm intelligence and wit."—NYTBR